No one should have to suffer domestic violence

On Behalf of | Oct 25, 2018 | Domestic Violence |

The risk of domestic abuse is faced by many people in Florida. In numbers released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC) one in four women and one in nine men are victimized by domestic violence in any given year. That breaks down to a woman being abused every nine seconds. The problem is not limited to any race, economic income bracket, religion or education level.

Many people place blame on the victim for remaining in the situation. Leaving is not always an easy option. The fear of retribution by the abuser is a factor that contributes to a person remaining in the relationship. A person’s self-esteem is often beaten down and one’s confidence to fight back may be nonexistent.

When a person does attempt to leave, the risk of significant harm from the abuser increases. A woman is 70 times more likely to be seriously hurt or killed by an abuser in the weeks immediately after she leaves a relationship. Indeed, women do try an average of seven to 11 times to leave a dangerous relationship.

Someone in Florida who feels trapped in an abusive situation could benefit from having a confidential conversation with a family law attorney. In addition to being able to advise a victim of his or her rights, a lawyer may also be able to help get the victim to a safe location, such as a shelter. A lawyer can also assist with a restraining order that may help the situation. No one should have to suffer the pain and humiliation of domestic violence.